The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is now into the knockout stages and plenty of interest remains for Hull FC fans.

Familiar faces both past and present took to the field over the weekend in the final group stage clashes, with all four of Hull’s World Cup representatives doing battle for their countries.

England breezed past France in their final tie ahead of facing Papua New Guinea in Melbourne. With Sam Burgess back for Wayne Bennett's side, the Wall of White boss is able to name a strong team to face the Kumuls - who in turn are sweating over the availability of their star names.

FC prop Scott Taylor won't be involved in the quarter-final despite featuring against France, is this the end of his tournament?

We'll bring you the very latest from the England camp as well as everything in between. Stick with us as throughout the day, and the remainder of the tournament, and this daily blog will be updated with all the gossip and news you need for your WC fix.

Burgess - I won't let England down

Sam Burgess is ready to put in an 80-minute performance to help England reach the World Cup semi-finals.

The 28-year-old South Sydney forward has played just 35 minutes of the tournament so far after damaging a medial ligament in his right knee in the 18-4 defeat by Australia nearly three weeks ago.

That forced him to sit out England’s last two group games but he has been named in the team to play Papua New Guinea in Sunday’s quarter-final at Melbourne’s Rectangular Stadium.

England players pick up Sam Burgess and have a laugh during an England Rugby League training run in Melbourne

The former Bradford forward will pack down in the second row alongside Elliott Whitehead, with Ben Currie getting a bench spot ahead of Chris Heighington after stepping in in the absence of Burgess against Lebanon and France.

I’m excited to be back in the team. The boys did a great job without me. When I missed out, Benny came in and did a great job.

It’s pretty simple for me - I just have to do my job, I don’t have to do anything special. The players around me create things, I’ll just carry the ball and make my tackles. I’ll just turn up excited to play for England, give it my best shot and not let the team down.

If needs be, I’ll be able to play 80 minutes. I enjoy playing a bit wider at times. I played a lot of edge this year for Souths. It does allow you to get a few more minutes.

10:39Gareth Westmorland

Women's World Cup to get underway

England will launch their bid to lift the Women’s World Cup for the first time when they take on first-time entrants Papua New Guinea on Thursday.

The match at Cronulla’s Southern Cross Stadium is part of a triple-header, with holders and hosts Australia taking on Cook Islands and three-time winners New Zealand playing Canada.

The tournament, played on a round-robin basis with two pools of three teams, reaches a climax in Brisbane on December 2 when the final is staged as a curtain-raiser to the men’s World Cup final and all 12 matches will be broadcast on free-to-air television.

RLWC2017 chief operating officer Maria Sykes said at the launch in Sydney: “To have the fifth staging of the Women’s World Cup broadcast into New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the UK via the RFL website, as well as Australia, will have an immeasurable impact on the game.

“No other sport has had both men’s and women’s world cup finals played on the same day and on the same field.”

For more, see below.

10:38Gareth Westmorland

Lo a doubt for PNG

Exciting winger Garry Lo is rated a 50-50 chance to face England in the World Cup quarter-final, according to assistant Papua New Guinea coach Marcus Bai.

The Sheffield Eagles player, who has taken the World Cup by storm and will join Castleford for 2018, came off with an ankle injury in the Kumuls’ 64-0 win over the United States on Sunday and attended training at Xavier College on the outskirts of Melbourne on Tuesday in a protective boot.

“We’re looking at him but it might be Thursday or Friday before we’ll know,” said Bai. “I’d say he’s 50-50.”

PNG STAR: Sheffield's Garry Lo. (Image: SWpix)

Lo is set for a mouth-watering duel with England’s in-form winger Jermaine McGillvary but Bai insists head coach Michael Marum will take no risks with his star man and, if he fails to recover in time, there are players ready to step in.

We’ve got two boys who are waiting in the wings. Michael will have the last say and, if he’s not right, he’s not going to be selected.

Stargroth (Amean) can play full-back and wing and a bit of centre and Thompson Teteh can play centre and second row, also on the wing, and those boys are 100 per cent.

10:34KEY EVENT

Welcome to Day 20!

After a slight break, we’re back with our RLWC blog.

We’ll give you the latest England and PNG news first up. Stay tuned...

11:58

It's all over and job done

England win the game 36-6 and while they didn’t concede any points in the second half, it wasn’t a great display with the ball and the intensity and style of the first half was missing. Still, it’s job done.

Now they must focus on improving for the knockout stages because they’ll need to do just that if they are to progress through the tournament.

11:51

Burgess loses ball again

Come on Wayne, leave him out the quarters and stick Taylor in there. You know it makes sense.

meanwhile, it’s still very scrappy as the clock ticks down

11:39

Video referee gives try for McGillvaray (36-6)

England score again as McGillvary gets his second. Insufficient evidence to say the winger lost possession whilst scoring in the right-hand corner.

11:32

England still only lead 32-6

France have been better in the second half but England have been poor here. The game is losing its way.

11:29

France chance ruled out

Forward pass given as Lucas Albert races away.

11:28

Taylor off

He’s had a good stint but that could be Taylor’s World Cup debut over.

11:26

Taylor goes for it but can't find the line!

Scott Taylor had the ball at dummy-half and he tried to run over from close range. He saw his name in lights there and that could hinder his chances of selection moving forward. Brown spurs the good field position on the next play as he kick is cleaned up.

11:16

England TRY 32-6

McGillvary with the latest as Widdop converts.

10:57

Half-time: England 26-6 France

Scott Taylor on late in the first half and has provided some neat touches. Only problem for him is that this game has gone as a contest.

England have looked good with the ball at times but defensively it was a poor try to concede from close range.

10:49

That's poor as France hit back with a TRY 26-6

Benjamin Garcia with a SOFT try from dummy-half. Wayne Bennett will not be happy with that. Really poor from close range. Conversion is good from Lucas Albert.

10:43

England TRY 26-0

This is already a rout! England in again and it’s Bateman this time who dummies and dives over.

10:36

England TRY 22-0

After soaking up French pressure, England spread the ball wide right and now Widdop provides the assist for Percival to cross. Widdop looking good at full-back but this is France. 22-0

10:22

Another set, another England TRY 18-0

Brilliant start for England as Graham crashes over now from close range after Gale’s short pass. England looking physical and fluid. Widdop now 3/3 with the boot.

10:19

Video referee gives England TRY 12-0

Ratchford ruled to have maintained possession as England spread it wide left for the score. Widdop converts again 2/2.

10:18

Almost in again!

10:15

England TRY 6-0

Good play from the halves in Brown and Gale before Widdop slices through from 30 metres out. Widdop converts.

10:12

Great first carry

Mike McMeeken dominates Jason Baitieri with his first carry. Baitieri now off with a head knock.

10:11

We're off!

England with the ball early on.

10:08

While we wait..the results from earlier

Ireland are out of the World Cup but pulled off a 34-6 win over Wales in Perth in their final match of the tournament. Meanwhile, PNG warmed up for the quarter-finals with hammering of USA. PNG highlights below.

10:04

Bennett doesn't want any errors

The England boss certainly doesn’t inspire confidence in the audience watching but he does in his players and that’s all that matters. Here we go. Get ready for some rugby league this morning. The anthems are on their way.

England team having a stroll this morning in Australia

Day 17: England take on France at 10am

Welcome to today’s blog of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. We’ll have all the updates as Hull FC star Scott Taylor makes his World Cup debut for England.

France are the opponents and whilst a win is expected for Wayne Bennett’s men, the big question for Taylor is can he outperform his rivals in the squad.

Those rivals are fellow bench props Alex Walmsley and Thomas Burgess this morning here in the UK and evening in Perth, where the game is being held.

It’s likely there will be two spots for props available on the bench for a potential quarter-final against Papua New Guinea. Bennett explained this week that positions are still up for grabs so this match against France is still vital.

11:44

Australia remain at 100% while Scotland get knocked out

Here are the rest of the day 16 updates as Scotland pulled off an impressive 14-14 draw with Samoa this morning but it wasn’t enough as Samoa progressed through to the last eight. Meanwhile, Australia hammered a resilient Lebanon.

Samoa 14

Tries: Junior Paulo, Matthew Wright, Young Tonumaipea.

Goals: Matthew Wright.

Scotland 14

Tries: Lewis Tierney, Frankie Mariano,

Goals: Danny Addy (3)

TIGHT CONTEST: Young Tonumaipea of Samoa is tackled by Luke Douglas of Scotland during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup match between Samoa and Scotland. (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

TRY TIME: James Maloney and Cameron Munster of Australia celebrate Munster scoring a try during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup match between Australia and Lebanon. (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

11:06

Day 16: Well... that was a classic! At least the highlights looked good!

It was a huge missed opportunity for Premier Sports this morning as they chose to run the football World Cup qualifier between New Zealand and Peru rather than the Rugby League World Cup encounter between New Zealand and Tonga.

The NZ vs Peru game ended up 0-0 in the first leg tie, while history was made in the RLWC group match between Tonga and the Kiwis. Tonga came back from 16-2 down to prevail 28-22.

It now means Tonga top their group and would now meet England in the semi-finals if Wayne Bennett’s men finish second in their group and both sides make it to the last four.

This now sets up the potential of a New Zealand vs Australia semi-final, with both of those likely last four games making the mouth water.

Hull FC back rower Sika Manu captained and started the game against the Kiwis, while departed FC man Mahe Fonua featured in the centres.

End of Day 15: Wondering how to watch New Zealand vs Tonga?

Highlights of New Zealand vs Tonga will be on BBC One tomorrow afternoon at 1:15pm. It’s not live but it’s something. However, it means the best and most eagerly-anticipated match of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup so far is not being televised live in the UK.